(2 July 2005 1:30 pm)

MUMBAI: Touted as Asia's first indigenous television channel, iTV was formally launched in Taiwan.

The new channel can be seen on cable channel 16 and presents programming that focuses on indigenous issues, culture and enterprises, and hopes to help preserve and pass on indigenous languages.

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has been quoted in media reports as saying that the opening of iTV was in line with the United Nations' slogan, "dissemination means human rights" and represented another step forward in Taiwan's democratization.

iTV will air Taiwan's first indigenous-themed soap opera, Hunter, starting 4 July. The soap opera details the lives of young indigenous people living in Taiwan's urban areas, including their experiences of being discriminated against and bouts with identity crises. Apart from such indigenous language programs, iTV will also offer various Chinese and English programmes.